Uropi is an International Auxiliary language created by Joel Landais. It is a synthesis of all the common points that can be found in Indo-European languages. Its main characteristics are simplicity, internationality and transparency

The next morning we regretfully left the golden town in the desert, drove back to Jodhpur and finally got to our hotel in Chandelao. After lunch we visited a women artisans' cooperative, and then drove off through the countryside on a photographic safari: there we could see graceful antelopes with spiral horns and a lot of peacocks. In that area are the Bishnoi (or Vishnoi) villages; the Bishnoi, whose name means 29 in Hindi (बीस नौ, "bīs no") because they live according to 29 principles, are vegetarian, non-violent, they don't drink alcohol and don't smoke, but above all they must protect animals and trees. In 1730 the Maharaja of Jodhpur sent soldiers to cut down the trees he needed to burn in his lime kilns. The Bishnoi embraced the trees and the soldiers started cutting off… trees, arms, legs, heads. 363 persons were sacrificed, but in the end the maharaja gave up: the Bishnoi had won. We visited a pottery where we watched the potter work: they essentially make round pots to keep water cool in summer. We stopped for a stroll in another village where we met friendly old men and a lot of children. In the 3rd village we were invited to the opium ceremony: the Bishnoi may cultivate poppies and produce opium, but they don't smoke it: they dilute it in water and drink it. This is what we shared with them: the opium makes the water taste bitter, but it had no particular effect on us.

On the following day towards noon, we arrived in Pushkar (Hindi पुष्कर: Pushkar) where the largest dromedary fair in India takes place in November every year. Pushkar is also a holy city for Hindus, with its lake where people go down the ghats (series of wide steps leading down into the water) to bathe and purify themselves. We had a walk through the rich bazar and then down to the lake where we didn't bathe; however some of us followed a prayer with a Hindu who chanted incantations in Hindi. They later said it was so stirring that they were moved to tears.

In Pushkar there is also the only temple in India dedicated to Brahma. According to the legend, Brahma took Sarasvati as a second wife in Pushkar; his first wife was so furious that, to punish him, she decided there would be no other temple to honour him anywhere else.

On January 26th Indians celebrate the Republic, on the anniversary of the 1950 Indian Constitution. We left Pushkar in the morning and stopped in a school along the road where they had a celebration. Of course, all the pupils were there, in their blue uniforms, with their parents and other village people. At the top table sat the mayor together with the notables, respectable old men in turbans. They had also organized a show: the boys did gymnastics exercises, then girls danced on a platform to Bollywood music. We were welcomed as guests of honour and invited to sit next to the top table. Then the mayor delivered a long speech in Hindi, and at the end he sent someone ask Amar, our guide, whether we would like to say a few words. Of course, I was asked to make the speech. I started with a phrase in Hindi: "Namaste mere dostōñ", "Good morning my friends", the ritual formula Amar told us in French every morning "Bonjour mes amis". It was applauded because very few tourists bother to learn some words of Hindi; then I carried on in English. I thanked them for welcoming us and said how much we enjoyed visiting Rajasthan where we saw so many marvellous things and met such friendly smiling people, welcoming us so warmly.

At noon we arrived in Kishangar, a lovely little town by a lake. Our hotel was a former maharaja's palace, the Phul Mahal,"Flower Palace", built on the lake, just below the fort. Our room was a little marvel, the Maharani's room: an octogonal pavilion, over the waters with a terrace. All the walls inside were painted with frescoes depicting women bathing in a lake, surrounded with gardens, animals such as antelopes and peacocks. We had the afternoon free and went for a walk in the old town where we saw various craftsmen and tradesmen, a lot of children who wanted to be photographed.

This was the end of our journey through Rajasthan: after a long drive back to Delhi, we took off in the middle of the night. I think that, beyond the splendor of the palaces, I will never forget the beauty and delicacy of women in their brightly coloured saris, the children's curious eyes and smiles, the warm welcome of old men in turbans. We were all a little sad to leave our guide Amar, "immortal"in Hindi, who was so friendly, always ready to laugh and smile, always willing to unveil the secrets of that mysterious country; and we will miss the now famous "Good morning my friends"with which he greeted us every morning.